, 1887-06-25

was admitted free of duty and further not
FL rednca its own Custom tariff, for if such
orEsimilar obligations were not entered
into. lie did not see what security there
swonid be for ST. Croix that the loss OF a
revenue of $IO0, 600 could be covered.
s3rd Member for Christiansteds Country
District iLeevy) replied that the dehclellcy
could in his opinion easily be MADE up:.
The grant or the Treaty would put S42O,OOV
in the pockets of tho planters, ana Tue
Government could by an income tax make
up the amount lost by the concession of
the free importation of American goods to
this island. ~Yssgs
End Member for Christiansted's Town
District (Lemmimg) would really like to
known il it were the real meaning or the
planters. that a pure gain should be made on
their mart of nearly 1920, 900 and that other
members of the community should be assess
ed an income tax in order to make up the de-
ficiency that would arise by the concession
O free importation OfAmerlcan goods toCnls
island. He had all along waited patiently
to hear the last honorable speaker pro-
pose voluntarily in his own ana III Denalt
Of the nlantine community q willingness to
meet the deficiency out OF the great gam
that would accrue to them, but he found
now, as usually is the case, when the ques'
ton is about taxation on the planters, thaG
they are said to have slo income ana not TO
be able to stand taxation, whereas they
were now ready, as the last honoraole
speaker had Just remarked, to pockeC inc
S42O. 600 gain and instead OF making up
the deficit out Of their great gain, to Dur
den other members of the community with
an income tax in addition TO their other
taxes. He thought this very peculiar.
3rd Grown Member (FGber) meant That
if the petition was to be referred 10 II
Committee it beloved the members to be
unanimous. Opinions had differed so
greatly that it would not be the right
thing to throw the matter out, but
he would propose that II postponement
should take place and a committee appoint
ed to take the petition into consideration.
The planters seem to place great confidence
in a satisfactory issue OF the petition.
3rd Member for Fre,leriksted's Country
District fHe,citt) would take exception to
the last remark. He could not see the ne
cessity of appointing a Committee to report
upon the petition. 1t would only be q
waste of time. The petition was worded
so simple and straightforward that ne
could not see the necessity OF further he
lay.
3rd Member for Cliristiansted's Country
District (LeecN thought that it ao0ald look
we'll if the planters out of the gain of
S42O,OOO would make up the deficit. He
thought the question appertaining to the
deficit easily answered, for the deficit
could be easily made up in some shape or
other.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (SUitSef) agreed with last honoura.
BILE speaker and the honorable 3rd Mem
Der for Frederiksted's Country District
(Hewitt he would support the suggestion
of an income tax on the Members Of the
community. Thedeficit would then easily
be made up. 1t was q we'll known thing
that the planters lad no real income, hence
could not be the ones upon whom the i'll.
come tax should fall.
4th Orownmember (Ri ehtes) agreed with
the honorable 3rd Member for Christian
sted's Town District (Wassard) in not
being able to vote in favor Of the petition
laid before the Council. He would not
ever support the proposal of the appoint
ment of a Committee. A Committee
appointed to investigate and consider the
present deplorable condition OF the island,
he might support with his vote if these
Investigations were the outcome of the
proposed petition, but he would not vote
in favor Disappointing a Committee for the
mere purpose of Considering the petition,
as this step would lead to impossibilities.
We stood face to face with a Judgment
supposed to accord Us free importation i'll
4ha TT q h~a 2oCinroaitv frnatv Inf